A vote for Jekyll Island/ St. Simon's. I just got back from Jekyll and it was lovely this weekend. (I have talked about Jekyll before on this site, and won't repeat those general comments.) The center of the island is maintained as a park, as naturally as a park can be maintained-- with paths cut through the forests and poured through the marsh. Those who stay in the (not very lux) hotels on the perimeter or even in the beautifully maintained Jekyll Island Club properties, miss the true point of Jekyll. If you are looking for a lovely barrier island and can overlook the strip along the ocean, Jekyll can be a quiet lovely place. Don't plan to eat great meals there, except possibly at the Jekyll Island Club restaurants (and I can't vouch for the Grand Dining Room because I never take anything dressy enough to eat there). Shopping is minimal. However, St. Simons is very close, and available by water taxi from Jekyll. You can drive of course, too.

The traffic warning between Sacto and Tahoe does not apply in September. It does apply during ski season and somewhat in the summer.

Ahtough I have not been to all of the places on your list, for September, I would vote for Cape Cod. There is something almost magical about the light there in September. Plus, the kiddies are back in school and the weather is still nice. If you like swimming in the ocean, though, not ideal as it is absolutely freezing, but then that's true even in July. Plenty of beach to walk, plus the rail trail. Would recommend the "lower" cape towns if you like quiet and picturesque, as opposed to the more crowded "upper" cape.

On the other hand, Napa/Sonoma are also really great in September!

We've been lucky and have never experienced anything but beautiful weather in New England in September, but we always go towards the beginning of the month....just after Labor Day.

Wow, I don't know if you guys are making my decision easier or harder!

LoveItaly - thanks for the traffic warning!

escargot - glad to hear you think SF fits the bill because it's pretty high on the list. And thanks for the good wishes!

TahitiTams- If we stayed in La Jolla, are you saying we wouldn't need a car? What about other areas of the city? I figured a car was a 'must' in SD, but maybe not with just 3 or 4 days????

egibbs - would we fly into Jacksonville? How long does it take from the airport? I'll try to look up your other posts on Jekyll.

Suzie - thanks for the clarification on the drive - that helps.

cantstayhome - first of all, I love that name - I'm jealous! Next, can you define 'upper' and 'lower' cape? My guess would be 'lower' is further from the mainland and 'upper' is closer? Can you tell me any specific towns you prefer?

joe - glad to hear about the weather. Weather.com said that the Boston area gets almost 3.5 inches of rain in September - that seemed like alot so I compared with OKC - our average is almost 4 inches in Sept. I learn something new everyday!

Thanks again for everyones responses!
H

If you fly into JAX, I think it would take about an hour and 1/2 to Jekyll, on I95, not positive, but that is my guess. We like flying in and out of JAX, but also, that gives rise to anoher range of possibilities. Eliminating those to the south (although, St. Augustine. . .), and depending on what you want to do, there is good browsing type shopping and pampering hotels in Fernandina (Amelia Island) like the Ritz, the Plantation, and, my favorite, Elizabeth Pointe, plus, it is quaint, and there is Cumberland Island, an undeveloped barrier island, maintained by the park service and accessible only by ferry from St. Mary's, and then Jekyll/St. Simons. You COULD if you are in a travelling mode rather than a resting mode, head north to Savannah, about 2 hours further up I95. BTW, a little further north is Beaufort, South Carolina, which is quaint, lovely, and has a couple of restaurants facing the water. Of course, we're way way past 3 or 4 nights here. But if you were to take another tack, and decide on Charleston, you'll want to make a (short) side trip to Beaufort.